Civil Services - Preliminary Exam - Do's & Dont's
The preliminary examination for the selection of personnel for civil services conducted every year by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is scheduled for May 15. Here are some tips for the aspirants:
Methodology
At the very inception, it should be stated that the preliminary examination is definitely not yet another competitive examination we are familiar with. It has a specific method, objective and system. Considering the nature of civil services in India, the preliminary examination is designed in such a way that it would test the candidates' overall understanding of the entire gamut of human learning. One should first of all become a "generalist" to perform well and then become a "specialist" to take up the main examination. The candidate should take a bird's eye of view of contemporary life both in India and outside. Civil services preliminary examination is highly "extrinsic" and the main examination, "intrinsic."
Many students fail in civil services examinations mainly for the reason that they fail to understand the philosophy behind them. Any amount of hard work will not yield a positive result unless and until one becomes familiar with the rationale. Selection of areas, study materials and careful distribution of time allotted for the preparation of every subject are the three essential factors.
Candidates relying too much on NCERT books to understand the basics of subjects like Physics, Chemistry, Botany and Zoology will have no use unless they become familiar with areas which establish the relevance between those subjects and contemporary human life. For instance, this year, one may expect a question on tsunami not as a natural calamity or its density of devastation but the scientific factors behind it. This may lead to one's understanding of subjects such as oceanography and seismology.
Important areas
Focus on developing areas such as oil industry, banking, finance and entry of MNCs into India, mechatronics, cell-therapy and genetic engineering will be of great use.
Union Budget 2005 - FDI, cess, allocation of funds, total deficit and external borrowings.
Indo-U.S. trade related matters, Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipe line issue, trade agreements and new frontiers.
Features of National Common Minimum Programme (NCMP)
Scientific factors behind tsunami and its aftermath
Works and distinctions of writers like Raja Rao, Saul Bellow and C.D. Narasimiah who passed away recently.
India's space achievements and ongoing projects.
Selection of Pope
Sino-India relations
India's entry into UN Security Council.
Some do's
Methodology
At the very inception, it should be stated that the preliminary examination is definitely not yet another competitive examination we are familiar with. It has a specific method, objective and system. Considering the nature of civil services in India, the preliminary examination is designed in such a way that it would test the candidates' overall understanding of the entire gamut of human learning. One should first of all become a "generalist" to perform well and then become a "specialist" to take up the main examination. The candidate should take a bird's eye of view of contemporary life both in India and outside. Civil services preliminary examination is highly "extrinsic" and the main examination, "intrinsic."
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Many students fail in civil services examinations mainly for the reason that they fail to understand the philosophy behind them. Any amount of hard work will not yield a positive result unless and until one becomes familiar with the rationale. Selection of areas, study materials and careful distribution of time allotted for the preparation of every subject are the three essential factors.
Candidates relying too much on NCERT books to understand the basics of subjects like Physics, Chemistry, Botany and Zoology will have no use unless they become familiar with areas which establish the relevance between those subjects and contemporary human life. For instance, this year, one may expect a question on tsunami not as a natural calamity or its density of devastation but the scientific factors behind it. This may lead to one's understanding of subjects such as oceanography and seismology.
Important areas
Focus on developing areas such as oil industry, banking, finance and entry of MNCs into India, mechatronics, cell-therapy and genetic engineering will be of great use.
Union Budget 2005 - FDI, cess, allocation of funds, total deficit and external borrowings.
Indo-U.S. trade related matters, Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipe line issue, trade agreements and new frontiers.
Features of National Common Minimum Programme (NCMP)
Scientific factors behind tsunami and its aftermath
Works and distinctions of writers like Raja Rao, Saul Bellow and C.D. Narasimiah who passed away recently.
India's space achievements and ongoing projects.
Selection of Pope
Sino-India relations
India's entry into UN Security Council.
Some do's
- Close your books and stop all forms of preparation 24 hours before the examination.
- Relax, listen to music and go for a long evening walk without a companion the day before the examination.
- Get your hall ticket and keep it in your handy pouch after verifying your number and name.
- Get a clear idea of the location of the centre and mode of transport and plan accordingly.
- A slow and steady reading of the question paper for about 15 minutes is a must before you start answering.
- Proceed from one question to another question gradually and steadily - avoid skip and jump.
- Don't contact your friends who are engaged in similar preparation 24 hours before the examination. He/she may try to frighten you out of anxiety by popping up new areas and information or you may do so.
- Don't be tense and over calculative.
- Don't try to revise all your study materials at a stretch before the examination.
- Avoid last minute entry into the examination hall.
- Forget it and get ready for the main examination after a few days of relaxation. Don't wait for the result of the preliminary examination. As far as civil service is concerned, preparation for preliminary and main examinations should go simultaneously.
